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As someone who always has to be busy with some little project, be it turning some plain jane skirt into something special, making little trinkets, or doodling in my sketch book, it can be so frustrating to get crafters block. Yes it is the same as writers block and can be applied to all mediums from painting to felting to sewing. It isn't that you don't want to make stuff you are just stuck in that everything-seems-boring-and-uninspired phase. And especially now when I am revamping my Etsy shop and have a craft show in September (yes I like to be very prepared) I can't afford to not have ideas. So when I am stuck I find that watching a good film or looking at other people's art can be a great inspiration to me. These are some of my favorite go to un-blockers.
- Juliet of the Spirits Watching this movie makes me giddy. Visually it is just amazing. The saturated colors, the costumes, the strange and (sometimes) sad story, all of it combines to make you feel like your trapped in some weird and wonderful dream world. It is probably my favorite Fellini film. A perfect movie in my opinion.
- Lost Girls by Alan Moore A word of caution about this book-It contains very adult subject matter that may offend some of you with more delicate dispositions. But with that aside, this book (or technically three volumes) is a beautiful piece of art. I love Alan Moore and so I may be a little biased but I think this book is tops all around. The story centers around the adult lives of Alice, Dorthy and Wendy (yes, those girls of storybook fame) and is beautifully illustrated by Melinda Gebbie. Almost 20 years in the making this book reminds me that art in any form, should not always be safe.
- Craftster Most crafty people know about this site but it is a great source for inspiration as well as help to get you through one of those complicated projects.
- In the Realms of the Unreal For those of you who have not seen the documentary or who may not be familiar with Henry Darger's work, he ranks up there as one of my favorite artists of all time. His illustrations follow the lives of the righteous Vivian Girls, and are so odd and magical and sinister it is hard not to be blown away. And while I have dreams of someone publishing his mammoth 19,000 page story of which his art serves as the illustrations, I will simply have to make do with what is out there.
- Make magazine/Craft magazine Published by the same people, these magazines never fail to be filled with great resources and projects. Make has a technology DIY bent, i.e. building robots or game consoles, while Craft is more, well, crafty. Check them both out but be aware of their 14.99 price tag-a little steep for some when it comes to buying a magazine.
All this talk about art and books and other good things makes me want to do something. Off to make pretty things...
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